MEDIA RELEASE
EMBARGOED UNTIL 1 APRIL 2016, 00.01H SST
Nestlé expands research and innovation activities in
Asia with new Research Centre in Singapore’s
Biopolis
Centre to focus on Healthy Ageing and nutritional interventions which
support older populations both regionally and globally
Singapore – Nestlé announced today that it will expand research and innovation
activities in Asia with the establishment of Nestlé Research Centre (NRC) Asia in
Biopolis, the biomedical research hub of Singapore. The expansion builds on
Nestlé’s strategic innovation partnership with Singapore’s Agency for Science,
Technology and Research (A*STAR), and provides a new base for Nestlé
Research Centre, with a focus on Healthy Ageing.
Longer life expectancy and a marked decline in fertility rates have resulted in a
rapidly ageing global population, with significant economic, healthcare and societal
repercussions. In particular, Asia’s ageing population is expected to reach 1.2
billion and account for 60 per cent of the world’s population of older people by
20501.
Nestlé has identified a strategic need for a research footprint within Asia to study
the role of nutrition and early development in health and disease, so as to better
address the needs of the region’s ageing population.
NRC Asia’s strong focus on Healthy Ageing leverages Singapore’s strong
biomedical research capabilities and diverse ethnic population to enrich the
wellbeing, health and longevity of Asia’s aged. The regional insights gleaned on
geriatric nutrition could also lead to nutritional interventions across the globe.
Furthering a longstanding relationship
1
United Nations Population Division. Population Facts. August 2014. Number 2014/4.
http://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/publications/pdf/popfacts/PopFacts_2014-4.pdf
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The establishment of NRC Asia builds on the success of Nestlé’s strategic
innovation partnership with A*STAR, Singapore's lead public sector research
agency driving economic-oriented research. The origins of Nestlé’s partnership
with A*STAR date back to 2011, when NRC began collaborative projects in clinical
nutrition research with A*STAR’s Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences (SICS).
Since then, the partnership has gone from strength to strength, giving Nestlé the
confidence to anchor NRC Asia in Singapore. NRC Asia’s scope of research
encompasses both new and existing platforms which have been jointly developed
with A*STAR.
For Nestlé, the appeal of A*STAR comes from its spectrum of research capabilities
and ability to integrate these expertise together with that of the wider innovation
ecosystem in Singapore.
Since the signing of a Framework Research Agreement with A*STAR in Jan 2014,
Nestlé Research has set up strategic platforms around food science and
technology, materials science and packaging, nutrition, health and behaviour.
The collaboration will also increasingly expand on biotransformation – the use of
natural processes, such as fermentation, to transform raw materials into
ingredients with nutritional or functional benefits.
Yielding positive results
The ongoing research collaborations between both partners are already delivering
impactful outcomes. An example is a project to improve the sustainable use of raw
materials, such as barley, in Nestlé’s malt extract production. A team from Nestlé,
and A*STAR’s Institute of Chemical and Engineering Sciences (ICES) and
Bioprocessing Technology Institute (BTI) have achieved break-through results in
Nestlé’s malt extraction process. The result: the sustainability of Nestlé’s malt
extraction facility in Singapore has been boosted, furthering Nestlé’s commitment
to environmental sustainability.
With the new focus on Healthy Ageing, key platform projects between Nestlé and
A*STAR are also in progress. One such project, a multi-party collaboration with
Nestlé, A*STAR’s Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN), the National University
of Singapore (NUS) and Sanofi Pasteur rides on an existing vaccination study in
the elderly. It seeks to understand the role of nutrition and lifestyle on immune
robustness and frailty, with the end goal of developing nutritional interventions to
improve immunity and wellbeing in the elderly.
NRC Asia will be situated within Singapore’s Biopolis, alongside A*STAR’s
biomedical research institutes. With the centre’s close proximity to private and
public sector research at Biopolis as well as neighboring hospitals and universities,
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Nestlé will be able to tap on Singapore’s integrated R&D ecosystem to conduct
collaborative research to develop quality nutritional products.
The launch of NRC Asia brings upstream research activities that complement
Nestlé’s existing facility for applied research and product development. This
expansion is also supported by the Singapore Economic Development Board
(EDB), which has played a significant role in facilitating Nestlé’s business and
growing presence in Singapore and the region, since its inception.
Nestlé is expected to increase its total headcount at NRC Asia by 25 in the next
three to five years. This includes key positions such as Dr Fabrizio Agrigoni, Head
of NRC Asia and Head of Nestlé’s Healthy Ageing programme.
“The Nestlé and A*STAR partnership has shown significant results and great
potential for both partners. The collaboration and the founding of our Healthy
Ageing programme also marks the start of a new drive of scientific innovation
efforts which support unmet nutritional needs of Asia’s ageing population,” said Dr
Fabrizio Arigoni.
Professor Stefan Catsicas, Chief Technology Officer, Nestlé S.A. added:
“Singapore’s focus on higher education and scientific excellence with strong
industrial development purpose makes it an ideal place to broaden our research
base while bridging our NRC presence in China and Japan.
“Our priority is to participate in building an unprecedented ecosystem where the
government, academia and industry worlds come together to improve people’s
quality of life. Through open innovation with key players in the region, Nestlé
believes that nutritional science will provide enhanced solutions that support health
and wellness.”
Mr Lim Chuan Poh, Chairman of A*STAR, stated, “We are delighted at Nestlé’s
expansion in Singapore. As one of our valued partners, Nestlé has been
instrumental in collaborating with A*STAR to significantly grow our research in food
and nutrition in Singapore. We look forward to working closely with Nestlé to meet
the needs of Singapore’s and Asia’s ageing populations and empower them to live
longer, healthier and more fulfilling lives.”
_________________________________________________
For media queries and clarifications, please contact:
Ms Shree Ann Mathavan
Corporate Affairs & Public Relations Manager
Nestlé Singapore
Tel: +65 6836 7173
Email: shreeann.mathavan@sg.nestlé.com
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Ms Tang Xin Ning
Senior Officer, Corporate Communications
Agency for Science, Technology and Research
Tel: +65 6826 6452
Email: tang_xin_ning@a-star.edu.sg
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About Nestlé Research & Development
Nestlé operates the largest Research and Development network of any food
company in the world. It has 40 R&D Centres worldwide with over 5,000 people
involved in R&D.
About Nestlé’s Heritage in Asia
Nestlé’s first Asian R&D Centre was established in Singapore in 1980 and now
employs 135 people from 19 different nations with expertise in food science and
technology, engineering, packaging and nutrition to support product and process
development.
About the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)
The Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) is Singapore's lead
public sector agency that spearheads economic oriented research to advance
scientific discovery and develop innovative technology. Through open innovation,
we collaborate with our partners in both the public and private sectors to benefit
society.
As a Science and Technology Organisation, A*STAR bridges the gap between
academia and industry. Our research creates economic growth and jobs for
Singapore, and enhances lives by contributing to societal benefits such as
improving outcomes in healthcare, urban living, and sustainability.
We play a key role in nurturing and developing a diversity of talent and leaders in
our Agency and Research Institutes, the wider research community and industry.
A*STAR oversees 18 biomedical sciences and physical sciences and engineering
research entities primarily located in Biopolis and Fusionopolis.
For more information on A*STAR, please visit www.a-star.edu.sg.
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